Displaying the reclaimed

By Mark Cerick For the Camera

Posted:
10/28/2013 02:05:05 PM MDT

Updated:
10/28/2013 02:06:24 PM MDT

Steve Cavanaugh cleans art work that is for sale in the new ReSource consignment area at ReSource in Boulder. The nonprofit now offers a consignment space for local artists and woodworkers who use reclaimed materials.
(
MARK LEFFINGWELL
)

Local Denver artist Katy Gevaris has a new place to exhibit her work. Gevaris, who, like many other local artists, uses reclaimed materials, can now show her work at Boulder's ReSource Yard, on a consignment "stage." She says working through ReSource makes it easier -- and greener -- to sell her work.

"I tried to open up an Etsy account and sell through that, but my pieces are big, and shipping makes it cost-prohibitive," says Gevaris, who often uses reclaimed tiles to make mosaic table tops. "And I would rather sell it locally, anyway. That way you aren't using fossil fuels to ship it ..."

The consignment program is a change for ReSource, which since 2010 has employed a woodworker to make furniture and other items from reclaimed materials.

Steve Cavanaugh, program manager of the Center for ReSource Conservation in BoulDer, says the shift is part of a transition from making items to teaching others how to use the reclaimed materials from ReSource for their own projects.

"We're gearing more toward the educational standpoint in helping people do it on their own," he says. "It's one thing for us to build furniture out of reclaimed materials, but another to teach people to do it themselves."

ReSource is a nonprofit organization in Boulder with the mission to preserve natural resources by, among other things, recycling used construction items.

With the new program, the nonprofit's goal is to create a hub for artists, builders and craftsmen to be able to share their work with the community and display their work as a kind of inspiration to others.

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"It gives people a different lens to look at things," Cavanaugh says. "It's really about opening up people's minds for what they can do with other people's waste."

Gevaris says advertising and marketing has led consumers to believe that their furniture isn't good enough or needs updating.

"I like the idea of upcycling old material because it takes pressure off of the system to essentially buy more raw materials," Gevaris says. "We are going crazy with depleting our resources."

Cavanaugh says ReSource is working to create a culture of learning, being resourceful and recognizing that there is life left in material that other people see as garbage.

"It's really amazing to see gnarly, beat-up lumber be transformed into a beautiful table," Cavanaugh says. "It also gets other people thinking, 'Oh, I have an old piece of wood and maybe it's not trash, maybe it's a coffee table.'"

Gevaris found out about ReSource through a 2005 class, called Green Technology, taught at University of Colorado professor of architecture, Julee Herdt.

"The class was to build a piece of furniture out of reclaimed objects," Gevaris says. "She introduced me to ReSource, and I was on their mailing list when I saw they created a retail/showroom and I thought 'I would love to consign with (ReSource).'"

The art sells quickly, Cavanaugh says.

"Our woodworks department has shifted gears to a new focus of being more of a community hub to display other artists' work. That's really what the ReSource Woodworks is all about."

Gevaris says the space in eco-conscious Boulder will give artists and woodworkers good exposure.

"I think it's amazing. It provides an actual outlet of being able to show what can be done with things that people might think of as trash, and also, an opportunity to make some money off of it."

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